Hunting rifles: history of development from matchlock arquebuses to modern models

In 1504, the Spaniards demonstrated the first flintlock gun to Europe. This type of weapon was borrowed from the Moors, who in those years made a huge leap in the development of firearms. It was significantly superior to wick models. It was with such weapons that they hunted and fought for many centuries. In Russia, flintlock guns were used until the beginning of the 20th century, since shooting from them did not require cartridges. Hunting flintlock rifles were often richly engraved and had fine finishes. German and Turkish guns especially stood out.

In the 16th century, something like the first cartridges appeared, consisting of a paper cartridge case containing gunpowder and a bullet. This invention reduced the time it took to reload flintlock weapons. In the same century, the first double-barreled shotguns appeared. Since a gun was usually used only once during hunting or combat, many gunsmiths tried to increase the rate of fire. This is how not only double-barreled, but also multi-barrel models appeared. Unfortunately, the flintlock, which had multiple barrels, was too bulky, making it effective only for defense or ambush hunting.

The best hunting rifles of the 19th century

At the beginning of the 19th century there was a real breakthrough in the history of firearms. This is due to the appearance of the first percussion-capsule guns. The first shock train was opened in France at the end of the 18th century. Thanks to the experiments of a priest from Scotland, Forsyth, weapons appeared that used a completely new type of ammunition.

In 1842, new ammunition with rimfire cartridges appeared. They were created by Flaubert, who himself was a passionate hunter. These cartridges do not have a powder charge. In 1856, Flaubert's cartridges were improved by Beringer, who added gunpowder to them. Such ammunition is still used today. But the central firing cartridge, which is currently the most common, was invented by Potte. As often happens, another person received a patent for his invention. It was Schneider.

After some time, a group of English gunsmiths developed a new weapon that used center-fire cartridges. Soon all cartridges of this type received a brass sleeve.

Buying used weapons

If you decide to buy a used weapon, you need to inspect the level of preservation of the internal surface of the gun. To do this, you need to remove the cartridge case, then rotate the barrels along the axis of their channel, shaking them slightly, while looking at the light through them. A slight rash or slightly tarnished glass are a hindrance to the purchase. If the gun is really good, then these minor nuances can be missed. But it’s another matter if the surface is corroded by a layer of rust or covered with “cavities.” It is better to refrain from buying such a gun.

You should be wary if the gun looks very used, the stock is worn, metal burns are visible around the firing pins, the outside of the barrels are gray, but the inside surface of the gun shines like new. This most likely means that the barrels have been sanded, that is, the top layer of metal inside the barrel has been removed to remove rust. After this procedure is carried out, in 99% of cases the fire of the gun is lost without a trace.

It is worth noting here that all of the above about shustovka, as a rule, applies to very expensive guns from popular companies, because shustovka is a delicate and expensive operation. No one will make jokes about a simple gun that is cheaper to throw away.

Soldering is another “weak point”

When purchasing an old or new gun, you need to inspect the quality of the soldering of its barrels. To check, you need to hang the barrels by the under-barrel front hook on some kind of rope, then hit the bar with a stick several times. If a rattling sound is made, this is a signal of a soldering defect.

Then you need to wipe the lubricant with a cloth from the barrel pads and connect them to the stock. After this, you need to rest the butt on your thigh and swing it in the longitudinal direction. The slightest motion will be immediately felt by the hand. You can also determine the presence of lateral motion. Such defects should immediately discourage you from purchasing such a gun.

The accuracy and speed of the shot depends on the operation of the triggers

It's also worth checking the triggers. When they are cocked, loud, sharp clicks should be heard. The strikers must have sufficient impact force.

This is checked in the following way: place a cartridge case on the firing pin and pull the trigger. The cartridge case should bounce no less than half a meter.

Such important details

When buying a gun, it is very important to carefully study its passport, and also check all its mechanisms. They must be strictly carried out in accordance with the specified properties in the passport description.

The wood of the stock should not contain any, even minor cracks or chips. For both new and old guns, you need to check that the wood of the butt fits snugly on the metal of the stock in all places. Do not forget that any gap, even a small one, is a place for dirt to penetrate.

And finally, remember that you should not rush into buying a gun, you need to think carefully,

how to choose a hunting rifle, you need to do this carefully. And all because a gun is an item that needs to be changed as rarely as possible. You need to get used to a new gun, master it, you need to love it and take care of it.

New magazine hunting rifles

When the first single-barreled and double-barreled guns were still flintlock, the first examples of magazine guns appeared. They were very heavy and uncomfortable for everyday use. Here are some of the most famous representatives of those years:

Italian six-shot weapon from the Antonio Constante gunsmith shop; The new fashion also affected Russia, where a nine-shot gun appeared in the 18th century, made by the gunsmith Savishchev.

Bolt-action hunting weapon

Another popular system that is trying to supplant the classic double-barreled shotguns are bolt-action shotguns. This is a single-barreled weapon, which is usually rifled. The most famous representative of this category is the legendary Mosin rifle, which was used both in war and hunting. The famous kulak sawn-off shotgun is a shortened rifle of the Mosin system.

In Soviet times, these sawn-off shotguns were mercilessly confiscated and destroyed, but after the revolution, Mosin rifles were made into smooth-bore hunting weapons for a long time. Currently, any hunter who has the right to purchase a rifle can buy a real three-line gun for hunting. You can choose between a regular rifle and a sniper rifle, which was made from the best components. True, it costs 3 times more.

Is it worth buying a self-loading gun?

Currently, almost any gun store can provide the buyer with a huge selection of self-loading shotguns. They may have a gas recharge system or an inertial one. The advantage of the gas exhaust system is the lower recoil force, which provides the hunter with more comfortable shooting. And the indisputable advantage of the inertial system is its ease of maintenance.

But, despite the ease of use of self-loading weapons, experienced hunters will not advise a beginner to buy them, since this does not contribute to the development of discipline in the shooter. If a person was unable to hit his target with the first or second shot, then with the fourth and subsequent shots, he is unlikely to hit it. But when newbies miss, they begin to release their entire magazine in the hope that they will hit, even by accident. Therefore, beginners are advised to take a classic double-barreled shotgun, without reloading systems.

If you feel that a certain gun is difficult to use, then you definitely shouldn’t take it. The stock has various properties: length, hem, retraction, which can be adjusted if desired, if the stock itself allows it, but this should only be done with the help of an experienced shooter.

Modern smooth-bore weapons are, as a rule, suitable for only 75% of hunters. After all, sometimes the hunter’s parameters differ slightly from the standard ones, and there are also shooters who shoot from the left shoulder. It depends on which eye a person has: left or right.

There are often hunters who write with their right hand, but at the same time point the gun with their left, and for this they specially trained, because then the efficiency of using the weapon increases significantly. Beginner shooters are not advised to take a weapon with an adjustable stock, since the beginner immediately begins to look for ideal parameters for himself, and in the end makes the gun even more inconvenient.

Automatic shotgun models

The first models of automatic rifles appeared in the second half of the 19th century, but their serial production was established only at the beginning of the 20th century. The first production weapon of this type was designed by Browning in 1903. Currently, automatic shotguns are deservedly popular among a large number of Russian hunters. These models come in both rifled and smoothbore.

Russian-made shotguns can be divided into modern and Soviet models. Don’t think that it’s impossible to buy a new Soviet gun now. Many Tula and Izhevsk models are still produced unchanged. The most popular are vertical and horizontal double-barreled shotguns. Combination shotguns are in small but steady demand. Semiautomatic devices based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle are also very popular.

Criterias of choice

When choosing a hunting weapon, it is necessary to take into account certain criteria that play an important role.

Weapon caliber

Cartridges for a 12-gauge shotgun do not pose any difficulties in purchasing.
A hunter must clearly decide for himself which caliber of weapon is preferable for him. In most cases, models with numbers 12, 16 and 410 are selected. The first caliber is considered the largest in the presented series. 410, accordingly, is the smallest. It’s worth getting to know them in more detail:

1. Caliber No. 410. To date, there are no new double-barreled models of this caliber on sale, as they have been discontinued. The cartridges of this weapon are characterized by a small capacity to accommodate a projectile. They are often filled with buckshot or shot. When hunting, such weapons are extremely rarely used.
2. Caliber No. 16. A gun with this distinction is quite light, which is one of its positive qualities. The weapon is characterized by minimal recoil during shooting and weak combat sharpness. The main disadvantage of models with this caliber is the difficulty in finding suitable cartridges.
3. Caliber No. 12. This is the best option for hunters. The owner of a weapon with this caliber has no problems selecting and finding ammunition.

The choice of caliber should be given special attention. This is one of the important characteristics of any weapon, including a hunting rifle.

Hunting scopes

The Swarovski hunting scope has proven itself well among hunting enthusiasts.
Hunters who intend to purchase a gun should be interested in the scopes of the selected models. For novice game catchers, studying this parameter will help them understand which gun is best to choose.

On store shelves you can see a huge variety of hunting scopes. Beginners are advised to opt for optical options that are designed for targeting game in unsuitable weather conditions or at a large distance from the target. They have a number of significant advantages over conventional sights. With their help, the hunter can visually bring closer objects that fall into his field of vision.

Izhevsk guns and their diversity

Izhevsk guns are the main competitor of the Tula Arms Plant. Unlike its competitor, the Izhevsk plant produces a wider range of weapons for hunting. Among them there are several models of weapons for sport shooting.

Experienced hunters advise buying Izhevsk guns that were produced in the USSR. It is advisable to look for piece models in excellent condition. Here is an incomplete list of the most popular and sought-after IL models:

Single-barreled shotgun MP-18M; Double-barreled shotgun MP-27M; Pump-action shotgun MP-133; Self-loading shotgun MP-155.

In addition, the plant produces many different models to suit every taste.

Semi-automatic

There is an opinion that “going after a duck with a semi-automatic rifle is unsporting.” The shot sheaf of a large caliber is too wide, and its density is “excessive” for an experienced hunter. They say that carbines like the Vepr or Saiga simply beg to be used for hunting wild boar or elk, but not game. We leave this question to your discretion.

Like break weapons, semi-automatic weapons can be single- or double-barreled. The main advantage is a magazine of up to 10 rounds, which ensures a rapid rate of fire. Reloading occurs due to powder gases.

A definite disadvantage: a more complex and, therefore, less reliable design compared to a break gun. If malfunctions occur, in most cases this will lead to the end of the hunt and the need to contact a specialist. The second disadvantage is reduced controllability. The bolt, magazine, and barrel are shifted forward, the balance is less accurate than that of the “fracture”.

According to the types of reloading mechanism, guns are: gas-operated, inertial, longitudinally sliding.

Gas outlets. They work due to the pressure of powder gases. They are retracted through a hole in the barrel and act on the piston, which opens the bolt. The cartridge case is ejected, and the mainspring is simultaneously cocked. These guns are heavier in weight and more demanding to maintain compared to inertia guns. But on the other hand, it has a much softer recoil when fired, which means that shooting offhand will be easier.

Inertial. The shutter includes a rotating cylinder and a base. When the gun moves backward due to recoil, the bolt core turns the cylinder and unlocks the barrel. The cartridge case is ejected and the firing mechanism is cocked. The main advantage of inertial mechanisms is their low maintenance requirements; they are practically not contaminated by powder gases. The weapon weighs less and is more comfortable to shoot.

The main disadvantages are unstable operation at low temperatures; any contamination in the receiver leads to failure of the mechanism. Wedge locking of the cartridge in the chamber is also possible.

Longitudinal sliding. It is considered the most optimal design, simple and reliable, since the rigid fixation of the barrel and receiver ensures the greatest accuracy when shooting. The shutter is moved manually. When it moves backward, the spent cartridge case is removed and thrown out. The bolt then moves the cartridge from the magazine into the chamber, rotates and locks the breech. Like the inertia action, the weight of the gun is significantly less than its sisters with a gas exhaust mechanism.

The two main disadvantages are strong recoil and the ability to fire the next shot without jerking the shutter. Also, if dropped, the gun may spontaneously fire.

Pump-action shotguns. Reliable mechanism allows you to quickly reload the weapon. The forend is moved by hand, ejects the spent cartridge case and fires a new cartridge. This mechanism works much faster than a double-barreled shotgun because you do not have to remove your hand from the handle when reloading. You can fire intensively until all loaded cartridges are used up. You can also replenish them very quickly.

So let's summarize: